Solving the problem of local teacher surplus and shortage

On November 9, the National Assembly heard the presentation and review report on the draft Law on Teachers. At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Kim Son, Minister of Education and Training, said that by promulgating the Law on Teachers, some current shortcomings in state management of teachers will be resolved, such as: the situation of local surplus and shortage of teachers for preschool and general education levels that has been happening for many years, and shortcomings in the management of non-public teachers.

In addition, the quality of the teaching staff will basically be consistent throughout the system when there is a system of titles, professional standards, and requirements for teachers' ethics that are uniformly regulated. In addition, a number of specific, breakthrough policies will be calculated to create a favorable environment for teachers to develop. In addition to the basic salary and highest allowance as stated in Conclusion 91-KL/TW, there will be additional policies to support and attract talents to the education sector, attract dedicated people to work in remote, border, and island areas; and regulate a reasonable retirement age for preschool teachers and highly qualified teachers.

According to Mr. Son, compared to current regulations in related laws such as the Law on Civil Servants, the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education, the Law on Vocational Education, the Labor Code, the draft Law on Teachers has some new points such as giving the education sector the initiative in recruiting and using teachers. In which, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs are the agencies in charge of developing strategies, projects, development plans, and total staffing of teachers under their management authority to submit to competent authorities for decision; coordinating the staffing of teachers in public educational institutions according to the number assigned by competent authorities; education management agencies or educational institutions take the lead in recruiting teachers.

Teachers' salaries are ranked highest in the administrative career salary scale system.

Mr. Son said: The salary policy for teachers is arranged with priority. In which, the basic salary according to the teacher salary table is ranked highest in the administrative career salary scale system. Teachers are entitled to preferential allowances for their profession and other allowances depending on the nature of their work and the region as prescribed by law.

In addition, teachers continue to receive seniority allowances until the salary policy under Resolution 27-NQ/TW is implemented. Preschool teachers; teachers working in particularly difficult areas in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, coastal areas and islands; teachers in specialized schools and other specialized schools; teachers implementing inclusive education; teachers who are ethnic minorities and teachers in some specific professions are given priority in terms of salary and allowances compared to other teachers. Teachers recruited and paid for the first time are given a 1-level salary increase in the administrative and career salary scale system.

“The State has a policy to attract highly qualified people, talented people, excellent graduates, young scientists, and people with special talents to participate in recruitment as teachers,” Mr. Son said, and information on the retirement age of teachers has its own regulations in accordance with the characteristics of professional activities. In particular, teachers in preschool education institutions, if they wish, can retire at a lower age but not more than 5 years older than the regulations and will not have their pension rate deducted due to early retirement. Teachers with the title of professor, associate professor or doctoral degree and teachers working in specific specialized fields and sectors are entitled to retire at a higher age.

Reviewing the draft Law, Mr. Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, said that regarding salaries and allowances for teachers, the Committee agreed with the provisions in the draft Law and considered this an important and necessary content to promptly institutionalize the Party's policies, especially Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW dated August 12, 2024 of the Politburo and Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013 of the 11th Central Executive Committee. Approving the policies of priority, support, and attraction of teachers as stipulated in the draft Law.

However, according to Mr. Vinh, there are opinions suggesting to study and implement the spirit of the Party's Resolution on reforming salary policy. Consider regulating salary policy for teachers in the non-public sector. Do not re-regulate the policy of renting public housing that has been stipulated in the Housing Law; carefully assess the impact to ensure feasibility, especially in terms of resources for implementing the policy of ensuring collective accommodation for teachers when working in rural areas.

Regarding the retirement regime for teachers, the Committee agreed to stipulate that teachers in preschools can retire at a lower age (no more than 5 years) than the provisions of the Labor Code and will not have their pension rate deducted due to early retirement. However, there were opinions suggesting that it is necessary to carefully assess the impact on resources to ensure the implementation of this policy.